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"Some college administrators seem so distracted with fund raising, academic infighting, and community initiatives that they set up their emergency communications departments very poorly. Training is poor to nonexistent, secretaries are pressed into service with tremendous responsibilities for running 'notification systems' 24/7 and on weekends because no one else knows how to do it and the administration won’t pay for additional staff. Procedures are seat-of-the-pants and dependent on HIPPO (highest paid person’s opinion), except when something like Virginia Tech happens and there is some sort of scramble to do something different." --Donna
Most Colleges Avoid Risk Management, Report Says
U. of Georgia Paid 2 Fraternities $2.4-Million to Relocate, Contracts Show
The two were among five that houses on property where the university plans to build new academic facilities.
New Allegations in Admissions Controversy at U. of Illinois Suggest Ex-Provost Played a Role
Linda P.B. Katehi, the incoming chancellor of the University of California at Davis, has insisted she knew nothing of the admission of politically connected applicants at Illinois.
Sonoma State U. Foundation May Lose $350,000 on Loan to Former Board Member
The foundation will be forced to issue fewer scholarships in the 2010-11 academic year because of a diminished endowment, a university official said.
Court Overturns $2-Million Verdict for Former Coach at U. of Louisiana-Lafayette
The coach, one of the few African-Americans in big-time college football, was fired after three losing seasons. He sued, saying he had been dismissed because of his race.
The notorious vermin have forced Colorado State University at Fort Collins to cancel its annual Great Sofa Roundup, which allows students to donate unwanted couches.
College Suspends Student for Working in Gay Pornography | 58
President Obama's Visit to Notre Dame Carries Barely a Hint of Controversy That Preceded It | 58
Drug Sting Nabs 21 Students at U. of Illinois | 57
Faculty Members and Union Protest Staff Layoffs at Temple U. as 'Cruel' | 57
North Dakota Board's Vote Puts 'Fighting Sioux' Mascot on Thinner Ice | 57
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March 25, 2008
More Endowment Scrutiny Likely, Former Senate Aide Says
Unless wealthy colleges start spending more of their endowment assets on student aid, they can expect more scrutiny from the federal government, a former Senate staff member said today.
Dean A. Zerbe, who recently resigned as senior counsel to Sen. Charles E. Grassley, said in an online discussion with The Chronicle of Philanthropy that members of Congress remain interested in discussing a mandatory payout requirement for college endowments that have more than $500-million in assets.
But whether lawmakers pursue legislation to enact such a change will “depend to a certain extent on the voluntary response by the colleges,” said Mr. Zerbe, who is now national managing director of Alliantgroup, a Houston-based tax-consulting company.
Senator Grassley, of Iowa, is the top Republican on the Senate Finance Committee. In January he and Montana Sen. Max Baucus, the committee’s top Democrat, sent letters to 136 wealthy colleges requesting information about their endowment spending, financial-aid policies, and tuition increases over the past decade.
Colleges have been responding to the committee’s request over the past few weeks. Some lobbyists expect the Finance Committee to hold a hearing on endowment spending practices this spring. —Brad Wolverton
Posted on Tuesday March 25, 2008 | Permalink |Comments
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If such an asinine requirement is enacted, large endowments should be determined based on the value of the endowment PER STUDENT. A State University with 30,000 students and a $500 million endowment does not have a large endowmnent. That is less than $17,000 per student. Compare that to Harvard or Yale on a per student basis before you make that state U subject to MORE arduous administrative reporting, etc. Thus driving the cost of education up even higher.
— John Mar 26, 08:52 AM #
As for this particular policy project, I have no
dog in the hunt. But I am
amazed that S. Britchky’s entry castigates the Democrats when the article itself centers upon the interest of Republican Sen. Grassley in pressuring wealthy schools to do this.
Yesterday I saw a car with a bumper sticker reading “Don’t Blame Me. I voted Republican.” When are Republicans going to quit finger-pointing or start pointing fingers at themselves?
— Dave Mar 26, 08:55 AM #
My thought exactly. Baccus, the Democrat (MT) in with Grassley on the original data request regarding endowment spending, withdrew his support for the idea of legislation and mandatory spending levels. Right now at least, this has become pure triple-R: right-red-republican. But I would not count on it staying that way. The Dems. are not well-disposed to higher Ed. when it comes to the issues of price and cost. Grassley can find another D co-sponsor if he wants to try to drive this idea further. And this is then to the point of comment #1. Yes, I think they (Dems) will indeed be quite willing to pick a real fight over the costs and pricing of higher ed. Even Obama mentions it in every one of his stump speeches.
— David Mar 26, 11:23 AM #
State college receive billion dollar subsidies on an annual basis from legislatures that their private cousins don’t. Comparing Harvard and Yale to a state university is apples vs oranges.
— Jayte Mar 26, 03:23 PM #
I agree that the focus should be on dollars per student, but even that does not go far enough. Some programs are much more dollar-intensive than others. A 10,000-student university with a $500M endowment and a medical school is not in the same position as an equally large, equally endowed university without one. (Other types of programs also generally require more endowment than most.)
The cost of doing business in the schools’ lacales should also be taken into account. A university in Manhattan, for example, gets less bang for its buck than one in the suburbs.
— CU Alum Mar 26, 07:45 PM #